Conclusion: Meditations on the Archaeology of Northern Plantations

A summary of the methods employed and the conclusions reached after nine seasons of archaeological fieldwork are presented. Emphasis is placed on the success and limitations of the methods employed in the investigations at Sylvester Manor and results of those investigations. Although excavations concentrated on the plantation core, additional areas examined produced little in the way of archaeological features. The results, although preliminary, point to a major role for Native Americans as laborers during the earliest phases of the plantation’s operation. Landscape evidence also suggests an evolving economy as the Manor transitions from a provisioning operation to a commercial farm/tenant run operation within a decade of Nathaniel Sylvester’s death in 1680. A third transition saw the commercial farm reconfigured once again as a Georgian-inspired country estate eclipsed it

Contextual Flexibility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Central Carbon Metabolism during Growth in Single Carbon Sources.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen, particularly noted for causing infections in the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Previous studies have shown that the gene expression profile of P. aeruginosa appears to converge toward a common metabolic program as the organism adapts to the CF airway environment. However, we still have only a limited understanding of how these transcriptional changes impact metabolic flux at the systems level. To address this, we analyzed the transcriptome, proteome, and fluxome of P. aeruginosa grown on glycerol or acetate. These carbon sources were chosen because they are the primary breakdown products of an airway surfactant, phosphatidylcholine, which is known to be a major carbon source for P. aeruginosa in CF airways. We show that the fluxes of carbon throughout central metabolism are radically different among carbon sources. For example, the newly recognized "EDEMP cycle" (which incorporates elements of the Entner-Doudoroff [ED] pathway, the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas [EMP] pathway, and the pentose phosphate [PP] pathway) plays an important role in supplying NADPH during growth on glycerol. In contrast, the EDEMP cycle is attenuated during growth on acetate, and instead, NADPH is primarily supplied by the reaction catalyzed by isocitrate dehydrogenase(s). Perhaps more importantly, our proteomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed a global remodeling of gene expression during growth on the different carbon sources, with unanticipated impacts on aerobic denitrification, electron transport chain architecture, and the redox economy of the cell. Collectively, these data highlight the remarkable metabolic plasticity of P. aeruginosa; that plasticity allows the organism to seamlessly segue between different carbon sources, maximizing the energetic yield from each.IMPORTANCE Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen that is well known for causing infections in the airways of people with cystic fibrosis. Although it is clear that P. aeruginosa is metabolically well adapted to life in the CF lung, little is currently known about how the organism metabolizes the nutrients available in the airways. In this work, we used a combination of gene expression and isotope tracer ("fluxomic") analyses to find out exactly where the input carbon goes during growth on two CF-relevant carbon sources, acetate and glycerol (derived from the breakdown of lung surfactant). We found that carbon is routed ("fluxed") through very different pathways during growth on these substrates and that this is accompanied by an unexpected remodeling of the cell's electron transfer pathways. Having access to this "blueprint" is important because the metabolism of P. aeruginosa is increasingly being recognized as a target for the development of much-needed antimicrobial agents

The Archaeology of Hassanamesit Woods: The Sarah Burnee/Sarah Boston Farmstead

Between 2003 and 2013 the Fiske Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Massachusetts Boston conducted an intensive investigation of the Sarah Burnee/Sarah Boston Farmstead on Keith Hill in Grafton, Massachusetts. The project employed a collaborative method that involved working closely with the Town of Grafton, through the Hassanmesit Woods Management Committee, and the Nipmuc Nation, the state recognized government of the Nipmuc people. Yearly excavation and research plans were decided through consultation with both the Nipmuc Tribal Council, their designated representative, Dr. D. Rae Gould, and the Hassanamesit Woods Management Committee. Dr. Gould also played a continuous and active role in reviewing and collaborating on research activities including scholarly presentations at national and international academic meetings and public presentations at the community level. Large scale excavation between 2006 and 2013 focused on the Sarah Burnee/Sarah Boston farmstead that was occupied intensively between 1750 and 1840. Sarah Burnee and Sarah Boston were two of four Nipmuc women to own and possibly reside on the 206 acre parcel that today comprises Hassanamesit Woods. The other two, Sarah Robins and Sarah Muckamaug, were Sarah Burnee’s grandmother and mother respectively. Excavation, archaeogeophysical survey, soil chemistry, and micromorphological and macrobotanical analysis were combined with the analysis of material culture and faunal material to generate a detailed picture of Nipmuc life during the 18th and 19th centuries. Excavation also found evidence of earlier indigenous occupations spanning some 6,000 years. The most intensive period of occupation covered the period 1750 to 1840, but with a significant spike the period 1790 to 1830. This appears to coincide with the coming of age of Sarah Boston who continues to live in the household with her mother Sarah Burnee Philips. Based on a combination of the documentary, architectural and archaeological data, it seems that an addition was made the structure between 1799 and 1802. A rich material assemblage of more than 120,000 artifacts was recovered from the site that provides detailed information on cultural practices including foodways, exchange networks, agricultural activities and other work-related activities such as basket making. A wealth of foodways related artifacts as well as faunal and floral remains provide ample evidence of daily meals and feasting. The latter conclusion is particularly important because of the implications is has for demonstrating that the Hassanamisco Nipmuc were regularly engaged in political activities. We believe the findings of the project provide empirical evidence that counters arguments made by the Bureau of Indian Affairs that the Hassanamisco Nipmuc did not persist as a politically and culturally continuous community

Lowering of blood pressure after nitrate-rich vegetable consumption is abolished with the co-ingestion of thiocyanate-rich vegetables in healthy normotensive males

A diet rich in vegetables is known to provide cardioprotection. However, it is unclear how the consumption of different vegetables might interact to influence vascular health. This study tested the hypothesis that nitrate-rich vegetable consumption would lower systolic blood pressure but that this effect would be abolished when nitrate-rich and thiocyanate-rich vegetables are co-ingested. On four separate occasions, and in a randomised cross-over design, eleven healthy males reported to the laboratory and consumed a 750 mL vegetable smoothie that was either: low in nitrate (~ 0.3 mmol) and thiocyanate (~ 5 μmol), low in nitrate and high in SCN- (~ 72 μmol), high in nitrate (~ 4 mmol) and low in SCN- and high in nitrate and SCN-. Blood pressure as well as plasma and salivary [thiocyanate], [nitrate] and [nitrite] were assessed before and 3 hours after smoothie consumption. Plasma [nitrate] and [nitrite] and salivary [nitrate] were not different after consuming the two high-nitrate smoothies, but salivary [nitrite] was higher after consuming the high-nitrate low-thiocyanate smoothie (1183 ± 625 µM) compared to the high-nitrate high-thiocyanate smoothie (941 ± 532 µM; P<0.001). Systolic blood pressure was only lowered after consuming the high-nitrate low-thiocyanate smoothie (-3 ± 5 mmHg; P<0.05). The acute consumption of vegetables high in nitrate and low in thiocyanate lowered systolic blood pressure. However, when the same dose of nitrate-rich vegetables was co-ingested with thiocyanate-rich vegetables the increase in salivary [nitrite] was smaller and systolic blood pressure was not lowered. These findings might have implications for optimising dietary guidelines aimed at improving cardiovascular health

Protective Efficacy of Menthol Propylene Glycol Carbonate Compared to N, N-diethyl-Methylbenzamide Against Mosquito Bites in Northern Tanzania.

The reduction of malaria parasite transmission by preventing human-vector contact is critical in lowering disease transmission and its outcomes. This underscores the need for effective and long lasting arthropod/insect repellents. Despite the reduction in malaria transmission and outcomes in Tanzania, personal protection against mosquito bites is still not well investigated. This study sought to determine the efficacy of menthol propylene glycol carbonate (MR08), Ocimum suave as compared to the gold standard repellent N, N-diethyl-methylbenzamide (DEET), either as a single dose or in combination (blend), both in the laboratory and in the field against Anopheles gambiae s.l and Culex quinquefasciatus. In the laboratory evaluations, repellents were applied on one arm while the other arm of the same individual was treated with a base cream. Each arm was separately exposed in cages with unfed female mosquitoes. Repellents were evaluated either as a single dose or as a blend. Efficacy of each repellent was determined by the number of mosquitoes that landed and fed on treated arms as compared to the control or among them. In the field, evaluations were performed by human landing catches at hourly intervals from 18:00  hr to 01:00  hr. A total of 2,442 mosquitoes were collected during field evaluations, of which 2,376 (97.30%) were An. gambiae s.l while 66 (2.70%) were Cx. quinquefaciatus. MR08 and DEET had comparatively similar protective efficacy ranging from 92% to 100 for both single compound and blends. These findings indicate that MR08 has a similar protective efficacy as DEET for personal protection outside bed nets when used singly and in blends. Because of the personal protection provided by MR08, DEET and blends as topical applicants in laboratory and field situations, these findings suggest that, these repellents could be used efficiently in the community to complement existing tools. Overall, Cx. quinquefasciatus were significantly prevented from blood feeding compared to An. gambiae s.l. The incorporation of these topical repellents for protection against insect bites can be of additional value in the absence or presence of IRS and ITNs coverage. However, a combination of both the physical (bed nets) and the repellent should be used in an integrated manner for maximum protection, especially before going to bed. Additional research is needed to develop repellents with longer duration of protection

История возникновения частной медицины в Беларуси на рубеже XIX-XX веков

медицинской помощи формы, частные медицинские услуги, частные лечебницы, история медицины, Беларус

Inhibition of indole production increases the activity of quinolone antibiotics against E. coli persisters

Abstract: Persisters are a sub-population of genetically sensitive bacteria that survive antibiotic treatment by entering a dormant state. The emergence of persisters from dormancy after antibiotic withdrawal leads to recurrent infection. Indole is an aromatic molecule with diverse signalling roles, including a role in persister formation. Here we demonstrate that indole stimulates the formation of Escherichia coli persisters against quinolone antibiotics which target the GyrA subunit of DNA gyrase. However, indole has no effect on the formation of E. coli persisters against an aminocoumarin, novobiocin, which targets the GyrB subunit of DNA gyrase. Two modes of indole signalling have been described: persistent and pulse. The latter refers to the brief but intense elevation of intracellular indole during stationary phase entry. We show that the stimulation of quinolone persisters is due to indole pulse, rather than persistent, signalling. In silico docking of indole on DNA gyrase predicts that indole docks perfectly to the ATP binding site of the GyrB subunit. We propose that the inhibition of indole production offers a potential route to enhance the activity of quinolones against E. coli persisters

A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between regulator quality ratings and care home residents' quality of life in England

Background: The quality of life of people receiving health and social care is an important indicator of service quality, but the relationship between patient experience and outcomes and regulator quality ratings in England is unknown. In 2013, the health and social care regulator in England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), introduced a new ratings system and by February 2017, all social care services were inspected and awarded new quality ratings (outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate). This study aimed to explore whether quality ratings were associated with residents’ quality of life, controlling for confounding variables

Christianity as Public Religion::A Justification for using a Christian Sociological Approach for Studying the Social Scientific Aspects of Sport

The vast majority of social scientific studies of sport have been secular in nature and/or have tended to ignore the importance of studying the religious aspects of sport. In light of this, Shilling and Mellor (2014) have sought to encourage sociologists of sport not to divorce the ‘religious’ and the ‘sacred’ from their studies. In response to this call, the goal of the current essay is to explore how the conception of Christianity as ‘public religion’ can be utilised to help justify the use of a Christian sociological approach for studying the social scientific aspects of sport. After making a case for Christianity as public religion, we conclude that many of the sociological issues inherent in modern sport are an indirect result of its increasing secularisation and argue that this justifies the need for a Christian sociological approach. We encourage researchers to use the Bible, the tools of Christian theology and sociological concepts together, so to inform analyses of modern sport from a Christian perspective